Certificate  of  Incorporation, 
Constitution  and  Rules 
and  Regulations 


of 


The  Minute  Men 


rwiyww  *■  »i  w  w*^ 


*£& 


OFFICE  OF 

Brigadier-General  Thomas  H.  McKee, 

Commander-in  -  Chief, 
339  Pennsylvania  Ave.  Washington,  D.  C. 


Certificate  of  Incorporation, 

Constitution  and  Rules 

and  Regulations 


of 


The.Minute  Men, 


V 
v 


e^5 


OFFICE  OF 

Brigadier-General  Thomas  H.  McKee, 

Commander-in-Chief, 
339  Pennsylvania  Ave.  Washington,  D.  C. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2008  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/certificateofincOOminurich 


COPY 
CERTIFICATE  OF  INCORPORATION 

OF 

THE  MINUTE  MEN. 


KNOW  ALL  flEN  BY  THESE  PRESENTS  that  we,  the 
undersigned,  Thomas  H.  McKee,  Mahlon  A.  Winter  and  Paul  E. 
Beckwith,  being  persons  of  full  age,  all  of  whom  are  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  and  a  majority  of  whom  are  residents  of  the  District 
of  Columbia,  being  desirous  of  associating  ourselves  and  those 
associated  with  us  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  national  organization 
to  be  known  as  "THE  niNUTE  HEN,"  the  same  to  have  its 
legal  headquarters  at  the  National  Capital,  Washington,  D.  C,  in 
accordance  with  the  Acts  of  Congress  in  such  cases  made  and  pro- 
vided, do  hereby  certify  as  follows  : 

First:  That  the  name  or  title  by  which  this  organization  shall 
be  known  in  law  shall  be  the  following,  to  wit,  THE  MINUTE 
MEN. 

Second  :  That  the  existence  of  the  said,  THE  MINUTE  flEN, 
shall  be  perpetual. 

Third  :  The  particular  object  of  this,  THE  MINUTE  MEN, 
shall  be,  to  bring  together  into  a  national  organization  all  who  desire 
to  perpetuate  the  principles  that  animated  those  patriots  who,  by 
their  services  and  sacrifices,  achieved  and  maintained  the  Indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States  of  America;  to  keep  before  the  public 
who  are  now  enjoying  the  benefits  resulting  from  their  achievements 
the  memory  of  their  services ;  to  participate,  when  possible,  in  all 
patriotic  ceremonies,  celebrations,  and  anniversaries  in  the  Conti- 
nental uniform  ;  to  cause  this  historic  uniform  to  become  a  familiar 
sight  throughout  the  land  ;  to  promote  a  feeling  of  friendship  among 
the  members  of  THE  fllNUTE  HEN  and  to  inspire  them  with 
the  patriotic  spirit  of  the  founders  of  this  Republic. 


M323486 


Fourth:  The  number  of  trustees  for  this,  THE  niNUTE 
HEN,  for  the  first  year  shall  be  three. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals 
this  22nd  day  of  November,  1901. 

THOMAS  H.  McKEE  (Seal). 
MAHLON  A.  WINTER  (Seal). 
PAUL  E.  BECKWITH  (Seal). 

District  of  Columbia ,  jj. 

/,  a  Notary  Public  in  and  for  the  District  of  Columbia ,  hereby 
certify  that  the  above  named  Thomas  H.  McKee,  Mahlon  A. 
Winter  and  Paul  E.  Beckwith,  personally  appeared  before  *ne 
and  acknowledged  the  above  signatures  and  declared  that  the 
same  was  their  act  and  deed. 

Given  tinder  my  hand  and  seal  this  22d  day  of  November ,  iqoi. 

FRED  W.  MOORE, 

Notary  Public,  D.  C. 


4®=- TO  BE  KEPT  ON  FILE.-f* 


DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 

Office  of  the  Recorder  of  Deeds. 


"  The  Minute  Men." 


1     Deed  Incorporation. 

Received  for  Record .Nov.;.  **»  I9°.1:. 

Fee  Paid,  %?;7.5. 

Lee  F.  Schayer,  Dep.       Recorder. 


CONSTITUTION 


THE  MINUTE  MEN. 


PREAMBLE. 

The  Minute  Men,  a  corporation  existing  accord- 
ing to  laws  enacted  by  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  for  the  government  of  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, having  its  legal  headquarters  in  the  National 
Capital,  Washington,  D.  C,  by  virtue  of  the  power 
conferred  upon  it  by  its  Charter  of  Incorporation 
and  for  its  more  perfect  discipline  and  government, 
hereby  adopts  the  following  Constitution  and  Rules 
and  Regulations  : 

ARTICLE  I. 

Sec.  J. — The  name  of  this  organization  shall  be 
The  Minute  Men. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Sec.  J. — The  object  of  The  Minute  Men  is  to 
bring  together  into  a  National  Organization  all  who 
desire  to  perpetuate  the  principles  that  animated 
those  patriots  who,  by  their  services  and  sacrifices, 
achieved  and  maintained  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America;  to  keep  before  the  pub- 


lie,  who  are  now  enjoying  the  benefits  resulting  from 
their  achievements,  the  memory  of  their  services  ;  to 
participate,  when  possible,  in  all  patriotic  ceremo- 
nies, celebrations  and  anniversaries  in  Continental 
uniform,  that  this  historic  uniform  may  become  a 
familiar  sight  throughout  the  land. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Sec.  1. — Membership  in  The  Minute  Men  shall 
be  open  to  all  patriotic  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
eighteen  years  of  age  or  over,  of  good  moral  charac- 
ter, who  shall  subscribe  to  the  principles  and 
purposes  of  The  Minute  Men. 

Sec*  2. — Honorary  and  sustaining  members  may 
be  admitted  to  membership  under  such  rules  and 
regulations  as  may  be  established  for  the  govern- 
ment of  The  Minute  Men. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Sec.  J. — The  members  of  this  organization  shall 
be  organized  into  military  commands  in  accordance 
with  the  Rules  and  Regulations. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Sec#  \t — All  authority  shall  be  vested  in  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, who  shall  be  the  supreme  executive 
officer,  and  in  a  Council  of  Administration,  which 
shall  exercise  the  powers  hereinafter  expressly 
granted. 

Sec.  2. — The  Commander-in-Chief  shall  hold  his 
office  until  removed  by  retirement,  death  or  resigna- 
tion. 

Sec.  3. — General  Officers,  Colonels  and  Majors, 
shall  have  discretion  in  selecting  their  Staff  Officers. 


Sec.  4. — All  promotions  in  the  field  and  line  shall 
be  by  seniority.  Staff  Officers  shall  not  take  rank 
for  promotion  with  Officers  of  the  Field  or  Line. 

Sec.  5. — All  commissions  shall  be  signed  by  the 
Commander-in-Chief  and  shall  bear  the  seal  of  The 
Minute  Men. 

Sec.  6. — Commissioned  Officers  and  Enlisted  Men 
may  be  transferred,  mustered  out,  retired,  or  dis- 
charged on  application  made  to  the  proper  officer, 
pursuant  to  the  Rules  and  Regulations ;  but  no 
Officer  shall  be  dismissed,  nor  Enlisted  Man  dishon- 
orably discharged,  except  in  pursuance  of  the  sen- 
tence of  a  court-martial.  Non-payment  of  dues 
shall  forfeit  membership  in  The  Minute  Men. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

Sec.  J. — The  Council  of  Administration  shall  be 
convened  at  least  once  in. each  year.  The  Council 
may  be  reconvened  by  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  the 
members  of  the  preceding  Council,  time  to  be 
indicated  from  the  office  of  the  Commander-in- 
Chief. 

The  Council  of  Administration  shall  be  made  up 
of  not  less  than  thirty-five  (35)  votes,  which  votes 
shall  be  cast  by  any  given  number  of  persons,  in 
fraction  thereof,  to  be  chosen  from  the  organization 
as  follows  : 

From  the  General  Officers,  5  votes. 

From  the  General  Staff  Officers,       5      " 

From  Regimental  Officers,  10       " 
From  Delegates  from  the  various 

Regiments,  15       " 


The  number  of  votes  in  the  Council  of  Adminis- 
tration may  be  increased  when  the  number  of  regi- 
ments organized  shall  exceed  ten. 

The  same  ratio  of  representation  in  the  Council  of 
Administration  shall  be  maintained. 

The  Council  of  Administration  shall  have  power 
by  a  three  fifths  (3-5)  vote,  as  follows  : 

First — To  alter  or  amend  the  Constitution  ; 

Second — To  alter  or  amend  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions ; 

Third — To  review,  approve,  disapprove,  or  modify 
the  sentence  of  a  court-martial  upon  appeal. 

Sec,  2. — The  rules  governing  the  choosing,  meet- 
ing and  proceedings  of  the  Council  of  Administration, 
shall  be  provided  for  in  the  Rules  and  Regulations 
of  the  Organization,  and  shall  be  promulgated  by 
special  orders  from  the  National  Headquarters. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

Sec.  J. — Each  State  or  Territory  shall,  for  the 
purposes  of  this  Organization,  constitute  a  Military 
Department,  in  respect  of  the  State  Laws  governing 
independent  military  organizations  within  that  State  ; 
but  said  Departmental  authority  shall  not  be  in  con- 
flict with  the  brigade,  division  or  corps  organization. 

Sec.  2. — Each  Commander  of  a  Department, before 
executing  any  order  by  which  the  moving  or  parad- 
ing of  any  part  of  the  troops  in  his  Department  may 
be  required,  shall  first  procure,  if  necessary,  author- 
ity from  the  State  or  from  such  other  source  as  may 
be  binding  on  him  by  law.  He  shall  preserve  all 
such  authority  in  writing  in  the  Department  head- 
quarters. 

8 


Sec.  3. — The  various  companies  and  regiments  in 
any  state  or  territory,  as  provided  in  Section  i,  of 
Article  VII,  shall  be  organized  in  compliance  with 
the  laws  of  the  respective  states  and  territories  ;  but 
the  regiments  recruited  and  mustered  throughout 
the  United  States  shall  be  formed  into  brigades, 
divisions  and  corps. 

Sec.  4. —  The  senior  officer  in  each  company,  reg- 
iment, brigade,  division,  or  corps,  when  designated, 
shall  be  respected  and  obeyed  as  the  Commanding 
Officer  thereof. 

The  senior  officer  in  each  department,  whose 
command  is  limited  to  that  State  or  Territory,  shall 
be  designated  as  Department  Commander. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Sec.  1. — The  equipment  of  The  Minute  Men 
shall  be  similar  to  those  in  use  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War;  with  such  modifications  as  the  several 
Commands  in  any  State  or  Territory  may  elect, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

Sec.  J. — The  uniform  of  The  Minute  Men  shall 
be  similar  to  that  in  use  during  the  Revolutionary 
period  ;  with  such  modifications  as  the  several  Com- 
mands in  any  State  or  Territory  may  elect,  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  Commander-in-Chief, 

Sec.  2. — The  insignia  of  The  Minute  Men  shall 
be 

Sec.  3. — The  seal  of  The  Minute  Men  shall  be. 
(  ),  and  shall  be  in  the 

custody  of  the  Adjutant  General.     It  shall  be  affixed 


to  all  commissions  and  other  instruments  of  writing 
requiring  the  same,  but  only  when  so  directed  by  the 
Commander-in-Chief. 

ARTICLE    X. 

Sec.  J. — Commanding  officers,  at  their  discretion, 
may  require  purchasing  and  disbursing  officers  to 
bond. 

ARTICLE  XL 
Conduct  and  Discipline. 
Sec.  J. — Gentlemanly  conduct  shall  be  required  of 
all  members  of  The  Minute  Men. 

Sec.  2. — Obedience  to  lawful  orders  shall  be  en- 
forced under  proper  rules  and  regulations. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

Sec.  J, — The  social  and  business  welfare  of  The 
Minute  Men  is  committed  to  the  Company  Organi- 
zation. No  social  event  in  the  Company  shall  con- 
flict with  any  social  function  in  the  regiment.  The 
order  of  business  provided  in  the  Rules  and  Regula- 
tions shall  govern, 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

Ceremonies. 

Sec.  J. — All  Commanding  Officers  are  authorized 
to  participate  with  their  Commands  on  such  public 
occasions  as  is  contemplated  in  Article  II  of  this 
Constitution. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

Sec.  J. — There  shall  be  in  each  Command,  an 
Historian,  to  be  designated  as  the  Commander 
thereof  may  direct.  The  Commander-in-Chief  shall 
designate  the   Historian  in  the   National   Organiza- 

10 


tion.     Provision  shall  be  made  for  the  care  and  safe 
keeping  of  historical  collections. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

Sec*  J. — This  Constitution  may  be  altered  or 
amended  at  any  meeting  of  the  Council  of  Adminis- 
tration, providing  that  not  more  than  a  two  fifths 
vote  shall  be  cast  against  the  proposed  amendment. 


II 


RULES  AND  REGULATIONS 

OF 

THE  MINUTE  MEN. 


MEMBERSHIP. 

Sec,  \.—  Applications  for  membership  shall  be 
made  to  the  proper  officer  on  the  following  blank 
form  : 

Application  for  Membership. 


REGIMENT  MINUTE  MEN. 

P.  O State 


I residing  at  No. , 

P.  O. — ,  State  of ,  being  a  citizen 

of  the  U.  S., years  of  age,  desire  to  become  a 

member  of  Co. , Regiment  Minute  Men. 

I  respectfully  refer  to  the   following    persons    as 
being  two  of  my  personal  friends  : 

Mr No 

P.  O. State Occupation      

Mr No. 

P.  O. State Occupation 

Signature  of  Applicant, 


Occupation 

Date. 

Recommended  by 

Recruiting  Officer. 
12 


Sec.  J. — Applications  shall  be  preserved  and  filed 
in  the  National  Headquarters  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Applicants  shall  be  admitted  by  ballot,  each  mem- 
ber of  the  organization,  present  at  any  company 
meeting,  having  one  vote.  One  black  ball  in  every 
twelve  votes  shall  be  sufficient  to  deny  any  applica- 
tion so  voted  upon. 

Sec,  2. — Honorary  and  sustaining  members  when 
proposed  by  three  persons  may  be  admitted  to  mem- 
bership. 

Sec.  3.— All  persons  elected  to  membership  in  The 
Minute  Men,  shall  present  themselves  for  admission 
within  thirty  day  after  notice  being  given  of  their 
election  ;  failure  to  present  themselves  within  the 
time  required  will  terminate  said  application. 

DUES. 

Sec.  4. — Membership  fees  and  annual  dues  shall 
be  provided  for  and  collected  in  each  company,  in 
such  sums  as  they  may  elect.  The  company  fund 
shall  be  under  the  control  of  the  company.  The 
expenses  of  the  Battalion  and  Regimental  Head- 
quarters shall  be  apportioned  among  the  companies 
composing  the  same. 

Sec.  5. — Out  of  the  annual  dues  in  each  company, 
one  dollar  for  each  enlisted  man  and  officer  shall  be 
paid  into  the  headquarters  treasury  to  be  disbursed 
under  the  control  of  the  Paymaster-General. 

Sec.  6. — The  annual  dues  of  each  commissioned 
officer  shall  be  $10.00  payable  as  follows  :  The  dues 
of  general  officers  and  their  staffs  into  the  headquar- 
ters treasury  ;  regimental  officers  and  staff  into  the 
regimental  fund;  company  officers  into  the  company 
fund. 

13 


Sec.  7. — Commanding  Officers  shall  see  that  all 
funds  collected  in  their  Commands  shall  be  properly 
accounted  for.  Bonds  shall  be  required  in  such  sums 
as  will  protect  the  funds  of  each  Command. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Sec.  8.— All  companies  of  The  Minute  Men  shall 
be  organized  as  a  part  of  a  regiment  within  the  State 
or  Territory  where  located,  but  where  no  State  shall 
furnish  a  sufficient  number  to  form  a  battalion,  then 
the  company  shall  be  attached  to  some  regiment 
without  the  State. 

Sec.  9. — Companies  shall  consist  of  not  less  than 
twelve  nor  more  than  twenty-four  enlisted  men. 

Regiments  shall  consist  of  not  less  than  six  nor 
more  than  twelve  companies. 

Each  regiment  shall  be  organized  into  battalions 
of  not  less  than  two  nor  more  than  four  companies. 

Brigades  shall  consist  of  two  or  more  regiments. 

Divisions  shall  consist  of  two  or  more  brigades. 

Corps  shall  consist  of  two  or  more  divisions. 


REGIMENTAL  OFFICERS. 

Sec.  JO.  i  Colonel. 

i  Lieut. -Colonel. 
3  Majors. 

REGIMENTAL  STAFF. 

i  Adjutant, 

I  Inspector, 

i  Judge-Advocate, 

i  Quartermaster,  With  the 

i  Commissary,  >  rank  of 

i  Surgeon,  Captain. 

i  Dental  Surgeon, 

i  Paymaster, 

I  Chaplain. 


14 


NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 

i  Sergeant-Major, 
i  Quartermaster-Sergeant, 
i  Commissary-Sergeant, 
i  Principal  Musician, 

and    such   details   from   the   companies   as   may  be 

necessary. 

BATTALION  STAFF. 


i  Adjutant, 
I  Inspector, 
I  Quartermaster, 
I  Surgeon. 


With  rank 

of 
ist  Lieutenant. 


COMPANY  OFFICERS. 

Sec*  J  J. — Company  officers  shall  be 

I  Captain, 

i  ist  Lieutenant, 

i  2nd  Lieutenant. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS. 

Each  company  when  formed,  must  have  one  Ser- 
geant and  two  Corporals  and  when  recruited  above 
the  minimum  number  they  may  increase  the  ser- 
geants to  four  and  the  corporals  to  eight. 

Sec.  J2. — When  troops  of  cavalry  are  formed  they 
shall  be  constituted  in  like  manner  as  the  foregoing, 
except  that  the  minimum  number  shall  be  twenty- 
four  privates  and  the  maximum  fifty. 

The  non  commissioned  officers  shall  be 

i  ist  Sergeant, 

i  Quartermaster-Sergeant, 

i  Commissary-Sergeant, 

3  Sergeants, 

8  Corporals, 

i  Veterinary. 

Cavalry  troops  shall  also  be  entitled  to  an  addi- 
tional ist  Lieutenant. 

IS 


Sec.  J3. — Artillery  companies  when  organized 
shall  correspond  in  number  to  that  provided  for  in 
the  cavalry  arm. 

The  non-commissioned  staff  for  regiments  of 
artillery  shall  be  the  same  as  that  of  cavalry. 

BRIGADE  OFFICERS. 
Sec.  14.  i  Brigadier-General, 

The  Staff  to  consist  of  the  following  : 
i  Adjutant-General, 


i  Aid-de-Camp, 
i  Inspector, 
i  Judge-Advocate, 
i  Quartermaster, 
i  Commissary, 
I  Surgeon. 


With  the 
[  rank  of 
Major. 


DIVISION  OFFICERS. 

Sec.  J5.  i  Major-General, 

The  Staff  to  consist  of  the  following 
i  Adjutant-General, 


i  Aid-de-Camp, 
i  Inspector, 
i  Judge-Advocate, 
i  Quartermaster, 
I  Commissary, 
i  Surgeon. 


With  the 
\-  rank  of 
Lieut.  Col. 


CORPS  OFFICERS. 

Sec.  16. — Corps,  when  organized,  shall  be  com- 
manded by  the  senior  officer.  The  staff  shall  be  the 
same  as  in  the  Division  increased  in  rank  one  grade. 

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 
Sec.  J7. — The  ranking  officer  shall  be  Commander- 
in-Chief,  and  shall  be  advanced  from  the  grade  of 
Colonel,  as  brigades,  divisions  and  corps  are  formed. 

16 


Upon  the  formation  of  the   ist  corps,  he  shall  take 
the  rank  of  Lieutenant-General. 

The  staff  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  shall  be 
fixed  according  to  the  rank  held  by  that  officer,  but 
he  may  appoint  such  additional  Aides-de-Camp  as 
in  his  judgment  may  be  desirable.  When  the  rank 
of  Lieutenant-General  has  been  conferred  upon  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  his  staff  shall  be  as  follows  : 


i  Chief-of-Staff, 

i  Adjutant-General, 

i  Aid-de-Camp, 

i  Inspector-General, 

I  Judge-Advocate  General, 

i  Quartermaster-General, 

i  Commissary-General, 

i  Paymaster- General, 

i  Surgeon-General. 


With  the 

rank  of 

Brig. -General. 


--  Sec.  18. — The  Commander-in-Chief  shall  be  re- 
spected and  recognized  by  all  members  of  The 
Minute  Men,  as  the  supreme  authority,  and  all  law- 
ful orders  emanating  from  him,  shall  be  respected 
and  obeyed  under  penalty  of  suspension  or  dismissal. 

Sec.  19. — All  communications  to  and  from  the 
Commander  in-Chief  shall  be  communicated  through 
the  subordinate  Commands.  The  rules  and  regu- 
lations governing  in  the  United  States  Army  shall 
be  followed. 

Sec.  20. — In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, the  next  in  rank  shall  succeed  to 
the  office,  and  notice  of  such  succession  shall  be 
published  in  General  Orders. 

Sec.  21. — The  Commander-inChief  shall  wear  the 
insignia  indicating  his  rank. 


17 


GENERAL  OFFICERS. 

Sec.  22.—  General  officers  shall  wear  the  insignia 
indicating  their  rank,  and  shall  be  respected  and 
obeyed  as  such.  » 

Sec.  23.— General  Officers  in  The  Minute  Men 
shall  be  promoted  by  seniority.  The  date  of  com- 
mission shall  determine  the  question  of  seniority. 

Sec.  24. — Promotion  in  the  Field  Officers  of  the 
regiment  shall  be  by  seniority,  and  the  same  rule 
shall  apply  to  the  officers  of  the  company,  the  date 
of  commission  to  fix  seniority. 

DUTIES  OF  COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 
IN  GENERAL. 
Sec.  25. — All  Commissioned  Officers  will  be  held 
to  a  strict  compliance  with  the  rules  and  regulations, 
and  the  prompt  execution  of  all  orders  issued  by 
those  in  authority.  Whenever  by  reason  of  pro- 
longed absence  or  from  inability,  any  officer  is  not 
able  to  perform  his  duties,  the  next  in  rank  shall 
perform  the  same. 

Sec.  26. — Any  Commanding  Officer  who  may  be 
required,  in  the  performance  of  his  duties,  to  act 
upon  any  matter  not  mentioned  in  the  Constitution, 
and  Rules  and  Regulations,  shall  use  his  own  discre- 
tion in  so  doing.  All  such  cases  should  be  reported 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

CHAPLAINS. 

Sec.  27. — The  Chaplain  in  each  regiment  shall 
officiate  on  such  occasions  as  the  Commanding 
Officer  may  direct.  He  shall  parade  with  the  regi- 
ment at  his  own  pleasure. 

18 


Sec.  28. — Commanders  of  regiments  shall  keep  the 
roster  of  the  Field,  Staff  and  Line  Officers  in  each 
regiment,  and  at  their  discretion  may  also  keep  the 
roster  of  the  enlisted  men. 

SEPARATION  FROM  THE  SERVICE. 

Transfer. 
Sec.  29. — Officers  below  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  may  be  transferred  from  one  Command  to 
another,  upon  exchange  with  an  officer  of  like  grade, 
when  approved  by  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the 
Company  and  Regiment  into  which  the  transfer  is  to 
be  made. 

ENLISTED   MEN. 

Sec.  30. — Enlisted  men  may  be  transferred  from 
one  Company  to  another,  and  from  one  regiment  to 
another,  upon  the  approval  of  the  Commander  of 
the  Company  when  sanctioned  by  the  Colonel. 

RETIREMENT. 

Sec.  31. — Commissioned  Officers  of  all  grades  and 
enlisted  men  may  be  retired  from  active  duty  and  be 
retained  in  the  same  rank  or  position  for  any  of  the 
following  reasons ;  age  or  infirmity,  removal  or 
transfer  from  one  locality  to  another,  or  for  any 
other  reason  that  may  interfere  with  the  free  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  the  officer. 

Retired  members  shall  be  entitled  to  wear  the 
uniform  of  their  rank,  and  in  public  parades  may  be 
assigned  a  place  in  the  line. 

RETIRING  BOARDS. 

Sec.  32. — Retiring  Boards  may  be  organized  at  the 
discretion  of  the  Commanding-  Officer  of  a  regiment, 


19 


before  whom  cases  may  be  referred  of  both  officers 
and  enlisted  men. 

The  Board  shall  consider  and  report  upon  each 
case  separately.  The  report  of  the  Board  is  for  the 
information  of  the  Commanding  Officer,  and  shall  be 
placed  in  his  hands. 

Sec,  33. — The  Commander-in-Chief  may  cause 
Retiring  Boards  to  investigate  the  case  of  any  Gen- 
eral or  Staff  Officer,  before  acting  on  the  case. 

RESIGNATIONS,  MUSTER  OUT  OR  DISCHARGE. 

Sec.  34. — All  resignations  tendered  by  Commis- 
sioned Officers  shall  be  forwarded  through  the 
proper  channels  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  with  a 
statement  of  the  case.  Until  approved  by  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, the  officer  is  a  member  of  the 
organization  and  is  subject  to  duty. 

Sec.  35. — Any  Commissioned  Officer  may  be  mus- 
tered out  of  The  Minute  Men,  when  on  application 
it  has  been  shown  to  the  proper  officer  that  the 
applicant  can  no  longer  fill  the  position  for  reasons 
alleged. 

The  same  rule  shall  apply  to  enlisted  men,  and  the 
Commanding  Officer  of  the  regiment  may  determine 
and  dispose  of  all  cases  arising  in  his  regiment  or 
command. 

Continued  absence,  after  three  notices  to  report, 
without  giving  reasons  as  to  cause  of  absence,  in 
writing,  shall  cause  the  offending  officer  or  enlisted 
man  to  be  dismissed  or  dishonorably  discharged,  as 
a  court-martial  may  direct. 

Sec.  36. — Dismissal  or  dishonorable  discharge  as 
the    result   of  the   finding   of  a   court-martial,  when 

20 


approved  by  the  proper  officer,  shall  be   executed  in 
all  cases  by  General  Orders. 

COUNCIL  OF  ADMINISTRATION. 

Sec.  37. — The  Council  of  Administration  shall 
meet  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  September  in  each 
year,  beginning  September  3rd,  1902. 

Sec.  38. — The  place  of  meeting  of  the  Council  of 
Administration  shall  be  in  the  City  of  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia. 

Sec.  39. — The  Commander-in-Chief  shall  in  Gen- 
eral Orders  announce  the  apportionment  of  delegates 
among  the  various  commands,  as  provided  for  in 
Section  1,  Article  VI,  of  the  Constitution. 

Sec.  40. — The  General  Officers,  shall  meet  in  the 
City  of  Washington,  at  least  sixty  days  before  the 
meeting  of  the  Council  of  Administration,  and  choose 
their  representatives,  pursuant  to  the  Constitution 
(Art.  VI,  Sec.  1).  But  if  a  majority  should  so  elect, 
the  selection  of  their  representatives  may  be  by 
proxy  or  by  letter,  without  assembling  for  such  pur- 
pose. The  names  of  those  elected  or  chosen  must 
be  reported  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  at  National 
Headquarters,  not  later  than  July  1st  of  each  year. 

Sec.  4J. — The  same  rule  shall  apply  to  the  officers 
of  the  General  Staff  in  the  selection  of  their  repre- 
sentatives. 

Sec.  42. — The  appointment  of  delegates  among  the 
various  regiments,  as  provided  for  in  Art.  VI,  Sec- 
tion 1,  having  been  announced  in  General  Orders, 
the  officers  and  men  shall  choose  separately  their 
representatives,  providing  that  said  delegates  shall 
be  reported  through  Regimental  Headquarters  to  the 

21 


Commander-in-Chief  at  National  Headquarters,  not 
later  than  July  ist  of  each  year. 

Sec.  43. — The  General  Officers,  Staff  Officers  and 
each  Command,  shall  provide  for  the  transportation 
and  entertainment  of  their  representatives  while 
attending  the  sessions  of  the  Council  of  Adminis- 
tration. 

Sec.  44. — Reed's  Rules  of  Parliamentary  Proceed- 
ings shall  govern  in  the  deliberations  of  the  Council 
of  Administration. 

Sec.  45. — The  Presiding  Officer  and  Secretary 
shall  be  chosen  by  the  Council  at  its  first  meeting,  if 
a  quorum  is  present.  The  Secretary  of  the  preced- 
ing Council,  having  prepared  the  roll  of  delegates, 
shall  call  the  new  Council  to  order  and  preside  until 
a  presiding  officer  is  chosen  by  the  new  Council. 

Sec.  46. — The  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Council  of  Administration  shall  be  placed  in  the 
custody  of  the  National  Headquarters,  and  shall  be 
under  the  care  of  the  Judge  Advocate  General,  who 
shall  edit  the  same  for  publication. 

Sec.  47. — Such  legislation  as  shall  be  enacted  at 
each  session  of  the  Council,  shall  be  published  in 
General  Orders,  from  the  National  Headquarters, 
and  whenever  the  changes  in  the  Constitution  and 
Rules  and  Regulations  shall  appear  to  the  Council 
to  be  of  sufficient  impoitance,  a  new  edition  shall  be 
provided  for. 

Sec.  48.— The  Secretary  of  the  Council  of  Admin- 
istration shall  prepare  a  list  of  all  appeals,  number- 
ing them  numerically  in  the  order  received  and  when 
reached  for  consideration  by  the  Council  of  Admin- 

22 


istratioti,  they  shall  be  disposed  of  in  the  order 
entered. 

Sec,  49. — When  sitting  to  review  the  proceedings 
of  a  court-martial,  or  any  other  matter  on  appeal, 
the  Judge  Advocate  General  shall  present  the  case 
on  appeal,  and  the  accused  shall  be  represented 
either  in  person  or  by  counsel.  No  other  persons 
shall  be  heard  by  the  Council,  and  all  such  appeals 
shall  be  disposed  of  under  such  limit  of  time  as  the 
Council  may  direct.  All  decisions  shall  be  by  ballot 
and  shall  be  governed  by  Art.  VI,  Sec.  i,  of  the 
Constitution. 

The  action  of  the  Council  shall  be  final. 

Sec,  50. — If  the  Council  should  desire  to  recon- 
vene, as  provided  for  in  Art.  VI,  Sec.  i  of  the  Con- 
stitution, the  Secretary  of  the  Council  shall  mail  to 
each  delegate  or  representative  two  ballots  attached 
to  a  letter,  setting  forth  the  necessity  of  such  meet- 
ing in  a  brief  of  the  cause,  naming  the  day  of 
meeting  proposed,  to  which  the  delegates  or  repre- 
sentatives must  make  answer,  using  the  ballot  which 
he  approves.  The  Secretary  shall  preserve  such 
ballots,  and  if  upon  examination  it  is  found  that  two 
thirds  have  voted  in  favor  of  reconvening,  he  shall 
communicate  the  information  to  the  Judge-Advocate 
General,  when  upon  notice  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  he  shall  issue  a  General  Order  in  pursuance  of 
this  notice  convening  the  Council.  Should  the 
answer  disclose  a  negative  vote,  the  Secretary  shall 
so  report,  transmitting  the  ballots  or  letter*,  to  the 
Judge-Advocate  General. 

Sec.  51. — The  Council  at  any  extra  or  called  session 
shall  be  restricted  in  their  deliberations  to  the  par- 

23 


ticular  subject  or  subjects  indicated  in  the  call. 
When  so  convened  the  presiding  officer  of  the  pre- 
vious session  shall  preside.  The  rules  of  the  regular 
meeting  of  the  Council  shall  apply. 

DEPARTMENTS. 

Sec.  52. — The  "  Department  "  referred  to  in  Art. 
VII,  of  the  Constitution,  shall  be  established  in  each 
State  or  Territory  by  General  Orders,  as  soon  as  an 
organization  has  been  completed  in  the  same.  The 
Department  Commander  shall  exercise  his  discretion 
in  all  matters  when  compliance  with  State  Laws  or 
Municipal  Regulations  are  enjoined  upon  organiza- 
tions of  a  similar  character. 

Sec.  53. — When  any  Company,  Regiment,  or 
greater  number  of  The  Minute  Men  shall  be 
ordered  out  for  any  purpose;  the  Department  Com- 
mander shall  see  that  State  or  Municipal  authority 
shall  be  secured  for  each  separate  Command. 

EQUIPMENTS. 
Sec.  54. — Commands  may  select  their  equipment 
with  the  exception  of  the  uniform.     Commands  may, 
if  they  elect,  appear  without   arms;  but  each  regi- 
ment shall  be  uniform  in  its  equipment. 

UNIFORMS. 

Sec.  55. — The  first  Company  organized  in  any 
Regiment  shall  have  the  right  to  adopt  the  uniform 
of  that  Regiment,  which  shall  conform,  in  general,  to 
that  worn  by  the  Continental  line  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary War. 

Sec.  56. — The  uniform  shall  not  be  worn  by  mem- 
bers of  The  Minute  Men  while  not  serving  with 

24 


their  Commands,  except  that  on  full  dress  or  social 
occasions,  where  members  prefer  the  uniform  to  the 
civilian  full  dress  suit  they  may  so  appear.  This 
Section  shall  apply  to  Officers  and  Enlisted  men 
alike. 

Sec.  57. — It  is  enjoined  upon  all  members  of  The 
Minute  Men  to  deport  themselves  as  becomes  gen- 
tlemen, especially  while  wearing  the  uniform,  and 
any  member  of  The  Minute  Men  who  shall  enter 
any  saloon,  or  disreputable  place  while  wearing  the 
uniform,  shall  be  made  to  answer  to  charges  preju- 
dicial to  the  good  name  of  The  Minute  Men,  and 
upon  conviction  by  the  proper  court,  shall  be  dis- 
missed or  dishonorably  discharged.  This  rule  shall 
apply  to  the  Officers  and  Enlisted  men  alike. 

ARRESTS. 

Sec.  58. — The  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  U.  S. 
Army  respecting  arrest,  shall  govern  in  all  cases, 
except  that  relating  to  confinement.  If  for  any 
cause  a  member  of  The  Minute  Men  should  be 
restrained  of  his  liberty,  such  restraint  must  be  in 
accordance  with  the  civil  law. 

COURTS-MARTIAL 

Sec.  59. — The  Rules  and  Regulations  governing 
courts-martial  in  the  U.  S.  Army  shall  govern,  as  far 
as  practical  in  all  cases  where  charges  shall  be  pre- 
ferred, but  in  all  cases  where  findings  of  guilt  are 
had,  the  only  penalty  which  shall  be  inflicted,  shall 
be  suspension  or  expulsion  from  The  Minute  Men. 

Sec.  60. — The  findings  of  a  court-martial,  when 
approved   by   the    Commanding    Officer,   convening 


the  court,  shall  be  final,  except  in  cases  of  appeal  to 
the  Council  of  Administration.  Notice  of  appeal 
must  be  sent  to  the  Commanding  Officer  promulga- 
ting the  findings. 

Thirty  days  shall  be  allowed  the  applicant  in 
which  to  prepare  and  file  his  appeal,  and  when  so 
filed,  the  Judge  Advocate  of  the  Command  shall  pre- 
pare the  case  for  submission  to  the  Council  of 
Administration.  He  shall  furnish  the  Secretary  of 
the  Council  of  Administration  a  notice  of  the  case. 

INSPECTIONS. 
Sec,  61. — Each  Company  Commander  shall  cause 
an  inspection  of  his  Company  to  be  made  prior  to  the 
assembling,  to  participate  in  any  public  parade.  In 
all  such  inspections  care  should  be  taken  to  see  that 
the  equipment  and  uniform  of  each  officer  and 
enlisted  man  is  in  good  condition. 

Sec.  62. — Regimental  inspections  may  he  ordered 
at  the  pleasure  of  the  Commanding  Officer. 

Sec.  63. — Staff  inspection  shall  be  had  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  Commanding  General. 

TACTICS. 

Sec.  64. — The  tactics  now  in  use,  A.  D.,  1901,  in 
the  U.  S.  Army,  shall  be  used  by  all  organized  Com- 
mands of  The  Minute  Men,  with  such  modifications 
as  shall  be  published  in  General  Orders  from  time 
to  time. 

COMPANY  BUSINESS. 
Sec.  65. — The  business  of  each  Company  respect- 
ing its  financial,  social   and  mutual   affairs  shall  be 
conducted  in  a  general  meeting  where  all  members 

26 


of  the  Company  shall  have  the  equal  right  of  par- 
ticipating. The  Company  Commander  shall  preside, 
or  he  may  designate  any  member  to  act  as  presiding 
officer  for  the  meeting.  Reed's  Parliamentary  Prac- 
tice shall  govern  in  all  questions  of  Order,  the  Com- 
pany may  determine  its  own  business  affairs  as  the 
majority  may  direct. 

COLORS  OR  STANDARDS. 

Sec.  66. — The  flag  of  the  United  States  may  be 
borne  by  each  Regiment  or  separate  Command  on 
all  occasions  of  parade  or  ceremony. 

Guidons  corresponding  to  the  color  of  the  facings 
on  the  uniform  may  be  provided  and  may  be  in- 
scribed with  the  name  of  the  Regiment  or  Command, 
and  borne  also,  on  all  public  occasions. 

GENERAL  OFFICER'S  STANDARD. 

Sec.  67. — The  Commander-in-Chief  and  each  Gen- 
eral Officer,  while  in  active  command,  may  select  a 
standard  to  be  known  as  Brigade,  Division  or  Corps 
Standard. 

The  Standard  shall  be  carried  by  an  orderly  just 
in  the  rear  of  the  General,  on  public  occasions, 
where  his  Command  appears. 

BADGES. 

Sec.  68. —  Badges  of  patriotic  societies  and  those 
mentioned  in  Section  1760,  of  the  Rules  and  Regu- 
lations of  the  Army  (Edition  of  1901)  may  be  worn 
on  all  public  occasions. 

FUNERAL  HONORS. 

Sec.  69. — The  Rules  and  Regulations  governing 
funeral  honors  in  the   United  States  Army  shall  be 

27 


followed  so  tar  as  they  can  be  consistently  made  to 
apply,  but  the  firing  of  salutes  shall  be  omitted  in 
all  cases.  In  all  cases  where  funeral  honors  are 
appropriate,  the  Commanding  Officer  shall  tender  an 
escort  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  if  accepted 
then  the  escort  shall  be  ordered.  The  displaying 
of  flags  at  half  staff  is  left  to  the  option  of  the  Com- 
manding Officer. 

Sec  70, — The  Rules  and  Regulations  may  be 
altered  as  the  Council  of  Administration  may  direct. 
(See  Sec.  i,  Art.  VI  of  the  constitution). 


28 


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